Equity

We believe that Earthskills are for everyone, and we want our gatherings to be accessible for everyone. These skills and experiences are our shared human birthright. We should all have access.

While many of us are challenged by modern culture, there are some groups of people who have been profoundly effected by systemic disadvantages and inequalities.

The ERI Equity Fund exists to increase the accessibility of Rendezvous Gatherings for people with systemic/systematic access disadvantages. Included in these groups (but not limited to) are Black/African American folks, American Indian/Native American/Indigenous folks, Hispanic/Latino(a) folks, Asian Americans, other People of Color, and refugees. If you identify as a person who experiences systemic disadvantage and inequality, we'd like to offer you extra support in attending our events.

Apply for Equity Fund support using the form linked in the button below.

Equity Fund

Equity Fund Purpose

To increase the accessibility of Earthskills Rendezvous' events to people with systematic access disadvantages, in order to:

Help ERI better reflect the general population diversity
Provide a free and supported ERI experience for those who could not come otherwise for reasons including financial hardship
Serve as a bridge for recipients to become regular attendees and part of the ERI family
Expand the pool of potential work traders, instructors, staff members, instructors, and leadership council members
Encourage interest in earth skills/outdoor education in participant home communities

Systemic Disadvantage

Systemic disadvantage refers to deeply embedded, persistent barriers within societal structures, institutions, and norms that consistently limit opportunities and resources for certain groups, creating unequal outcomes despite individual efforts, often rooted in historical injustice and manifesting as disparities in education, income, healthcare, and housing. It's not individual bias but the collective impact of policies and practices that favor some while hindering others, perpetuating cycles of inequality across generations.

Equality vs Equity

Equality means treating everyone the same by providing identical resources or opportunities, while equity involves customizing resources based on individual needs and circumstances to ensure equal outcomes. Equality operates under a "one-size-fits-all" assumption, whereas equity recognizes that, due to different starting points and systemic barriers, unequal support may be necessary to achieve fair results.

Equity is the quality of being fair and just, especially in a way that takes account of, and seeks to address, existing inequalities.

Fundraising

Each year we raise money at our events to help promote diversity in the Earthskills movement.

We have a Raffle each spring and a jerk chicken lunch each event.